Today, On 4th July, Tamil Nadu has approached the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court’s stay on nine laws passed with the Governor’s deemed assent. The apex court agreed to hear the plea, citing its earlier April 8 ruling.
The Supreme Court issued a notice regarding a petition from the State of Tamil Nadu that challenges a Madras High Court order, which had stayed the implementation of nine State laws related to the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in public universities.
These laws had been deemed approved by the Governor following the Supreme Court’s ruling on April 8.
A Bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan connected this matter with an earlier transfer petition from the State, which sought to move the underlying case out of the High Court.
While the Court declined to stay the High Court’s order, it agreed to review the matter once responses are submitted.
The State’s request for interim relief is still pending.
The Court suggested that the transfer petition would likely be addressed after the summer recess and noted that the parties could approach the Chief Justice of India for a quicker hearing. The order being contested was issued by the High Court on May 21 in response to a writ petition filed by BJP leader K Venkatachalapathy.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the State, argued that the stay was improperly granted despite the Supreme Court’s April 8 decision, which recognized that the bills had received deemed assent from Governor RN Ravi under Article 200 of the Constitution.
Following this ruling, the State formally notified the nine Acts. He contended that the High Court should not have stayed duly enacted laws, especially in the absence of any demonstrated urgency.
The laws in question transfer the power to appoint Vice-Chancellors in State universities from the Governor to the State government.
They include amendments to the governing laws of several institutions, such as Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Dr. MGR Medical University, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, and Dr. Ambedkar Law University, among others.
In opposition to the State’s plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the State laws were inconsistent with the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations of 2018 and were therefore invalid due to their conflict with central law.
Case Title: The State of Tamil Nadu & Anr v. K Venkatachalapathy @ Kutty & Ors
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